Damned Nations Greed, Guns, Armies, and Aid

Containing a new introduction from the author and updates to the text, this is a book of uncomon power. Here, an extraordinary humanitarian gives us a bracing and uncompromising account of her work in some of the most devastated corners of the world--and a provocative vision for changing course on our growing militarization.


     Samantha Nutt is one of the most intrepid voices in the humanitarian arena. Weaving gripping personal experiences with uncompromising and impassioned argument, Damned Nations dissects war and aid, where humanitarian efforts go wrong, and what can and should be done to bring about a more just world. Drawing from nearly two decades of experiences at the frontline of conflict, Nutt challenges many of the assumptions and orthodoxies surrounding the aid industry. A book that is at once moving, engaging, and insightful, Damned Nations has been acclaimed by readers and critics across North America.

SAMANTHA NUTT, M.D. is an award winning humanitarian, acclaimed public speaker, and an expert on the impact of war, international aid and foreign policy. She is the founder of the international humanitarian organizations War Child Canada and War Child USA. Dr. Nutt has worked at the frontline of many of the world's major crises - from Iraq to Afghanistan, Somalia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone to Darfur, Sudan - developing and implementing programs that support children and their families. Dr. Nutt is a respected authority for many of North America's leading media outlets. She is a regular foreign affairs panelist on CBC's flagship national news program, The National and a contributor to NowThis News. Nutt's written work has been published by TED Ideas, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Maclean's, The Ottawa Citizen, The Huffington Post and other publications. Dr. Nutt's TED Talk on the deadly impact of small arms garnered over a million views on TED.com. She is the recipient of numerous honorary doctorates from universities in Canada and the US. In July 2011, Dr. Nutt was appointed to the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour, for her contributions to improving the plight of young people in the world's worst conflict zones. Dr. Nutt is a staff physician at Women's College Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. She resides with her family in Toronto.